Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission
EYESIGHT: Fairbanks-based sergeant helps with cornea surgery.
The Associated Press
(Published: August 28, 2007)
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A 7-year-old Iraqi girl who had trouble finding candy thrown her way by troops is in the United States for a cornea transplant -- thanks to a soldier who saw her difficulty, a Wausau doctor and some Lions Clubs.
Army Sgt. John Kempen, who hails from Wisconsin and is stationed in Fairbanks, noticed the girl's vision trouble when he served in Iraq from August 2005 to December 2006.
Kempen took her to see his medic and then spoke to Iraqi doctors who said they couldn't help. The girl's father told Kempen that she has felt like she has sand in her eyes since she was a baby.
The girl was identified only by her first name, Zahraa, to protect her family in Iraq. She is scheduled for surgery today at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. All services are being donated, the hospital said.
"We were in Iraq for 14 months and soldiers got really bummed out, so giving gifts to the kids cheered us up," Kempen said. "The kids love it. They really go after the candy, but Zahraa could never get any. She was holding her hands over her eyes in pain."
A year ago, Kempen turned to the Lions Clubs, known for their work to combat preventable blindness around the world. The girl arrived in the United States earlier this month to be evaluated by Dr. Kevin Flaherty, a cornea specialist at the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin.
Zahraa has swollen corneas and blisters on the front of them, so her vision is like she's looking through a very steamy window, Flaherty said.
"I am optimistic that surgery should improve things for her."
Frank Bocek, past president of the Crandon Lions Club, said many people pitched in to help Zahraa, including Wisconsin grade school students who raised money to help the girl and her grandmother travel to the United States.
The fact the Lions were able to bring Zahraa to the U.S. alone is a miracle, said Kempen, who is assigned to the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team of the 25th Infantry division. He said he plans to visit the girl after the surgery.
"If they can help give her the gift of sight," the soldier said, "or even just stop the discomfort she feels in her eyes, all the hard work will be worth it."
http://dwb.adn.com/news/military/iraq/v-printer/story/9258655p-9172785c.html
A magazine article claims that the girl can now see for the first time in her life due to donations from US medical personell. I can probably Google a more recent source if you care. I don't want to find that magazine right now.
I don't doubt it's authenticity. Or the authenticity of the soldiers who actually wish to help. However from this one story it's wrong to extrapolate to the conclusion that the soldiers in Iraq are doing a good job. I mean to be honest they probably are, and under difficult circumstances, but I'd be wary of drawing any conclusions from a single article.
Nice to see a positive human angle story rather than "another 15 people killed in a suicide bomb attack story though"
Originally posted by FeastboyCheck the Iraqi News Newtwork. There are many,many stories like this.
I don't doubt it's authenticity. Or the authenticity of the soldiers who actually wish to help. However from this one story it's wrong to extrapolate to the conclusion that the soldiers in Iraq are doing a good job. I mean to be honest they probably are, and under difficult circumstances, but I'd be wary of drawing any conclusions from a single article. ...[text shortened]... n angle story rather than "another 15 people killed in a suicide bomb attack story though"
GRANNY.
I usually try and shy away from these kinds of threads, but you are just begging for the obvious retort: how many Iraqi children have been maimed or killed as "collateral damage", and does this single act of charity also restore their lost eyesight, hearing, limbs, or lives? Or to put it more bluntly still by quoting one of my literary icons:
War is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength.
One should not need a particular political bias to know that having soldiers in a war zone to do what they are trained to do - kill and be killed - is fundamentally never a good thing. At best it should always be viewed as a last, desperate, distasteful measure to resort to when all others have been tried and failed.
Very little good ever comes from war, no matter how noble one believes the purpose it is predicated on. That this single act of charity in a war zone that must rival hell to reside in, is lauded while the obvious counter-point ignored has to be the worst kind of vacuous thinking I've seen on this topic.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungWhat about this Iraqi girl?
[i]Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission
EYESIGHT: Fairbanks-based sergeant helps with cornea surgery.
The Associated Press
(Published: August 28, 2007)
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A 7-year-old Iraqi girl who had trouble finding candy thrown her way by troops is in the United States for a cornea transplant -- thanks to a soldier who saw her diffi ...[text shortened]... more recent source if you care. I don't want to find that magazine right now.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungBig respect to him!! Such a shame so many other children had to die in the process. 🙁
[i]Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission
EYESIGHT: Fairbanks-based sergeant helps with cornea surgery.
The Associated Press
(Published: August 28, 2007)
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A 7-year-old Iraqi girl who had trouble finding candy thrown her way by troops is in the United States for a cornea transplant -- thanks to a soldier who saw her diffi ...[text shortened]... more recent source if you care. I don't want to find that magazine right now.
Originally posted by AThousandYoung[/i]Yeah? So what are you saying?
[i]Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission
EYESIGHT: Fairbanks-based sergeant helps with cornea surgery.
The Associated Press
(Published: August 28, 2007)
WAUSAU, Wis. -- A 7-year-old Iraqi girl who had trouble finding candy thrown her way by troops is in the United States for a cornea transplant -- thanks to a soldier who saw her diffi more recent source if you care. I don't want to find that magazine right now.
That helping one girl is going to ease the collective consciences of killers?
Or are you trying to tell us that the US government should be paying for this girl's treatment? That US personel shouldn't feel forced into spending their hard earned cash as a bloody charity?
Originally posted by scandiumYour "obvious retort" is flawed. The comparison should be with how many children would suffer under Hussein, bin Laden, Iran or whoever ended up there. We know Hussein hit the Kurds so hard they STILL can't go back home - the land is so contaminated it's not safe.
I usually try and shy away from these kinds of threads, but you are just begging for the obvious retort: how many Iraqi children have been maimed or killed as "collateral damage", and does this single act of charity also restore their lost eyesight, hearing, limbs, or lives? Or to put it more bluntly still by quoting one of my literary icons:
[i]War is p ...[text shortened]... s counter-point ignored has to be the worst kind of vacuous thinking I've seen on this topic.
The infamous doublethink quote has no place here. Why did you bring it up? It's completely irrelevant.
One should not need a particular political bias to know that having soldiers in a war zone to do what they are trained to do - kill and be killed - is fundamentally never a good thing.
That's ridiculous. I guess you think the invasion of Normandy near the end of WWII was an evil act?
You are so incredibly biased against the US...or the US military or something!
Originally posted by AThousandYoungWere Saddam Hussein still in power now, I dare say a hell of a lot less people would be suffering/dead as compared to now - like most dictators, he was ruthless and sadistic but that doesn't change the 'fact' that a 2008 Iraq under Saddam wouldn't be nearly as bad as the 2008 Iraq we have now.
Your "obvious retort" is flawed. The comparison should be with how many children would suffer under Hussein, bin Laden, Iran or whoever ended up there. We know Hussein hit the Kurds so hard they STILL can't go back home - the land is so contaminated it's not safe.
The infamous doublethink quote has no place here. Why did you bring it up? It's co ...[text shortened]... vil act?
You are so incredibly biased against the US...or the US military or something!
As for contaminated land - isn't depleted uranium a contaminant?
Originally posted by AThousandYoung[/i]
Your "obvious retort" is flawed. The comparison should be with how many children would suffer under Hussein, bin Laden, Iran or whoever ended up there. We know Hussein hit the Kurds so hard they STILL can't go back home - the land is so contaminated it's not safe.
The infamous doublethink quote has no place here. Why did you bring it up? It's co ...[text shortened]... vil act?
You are so incredibly biased against the US...or the US military or something!
You do know that Iraq was a secular State until the US stuck their dirty, boogerish nose in there...